In the heart of Havana, join local musicians, athletes, artists, performers, dancers and entrepreneurs for an intimate and insightful look at music, baseball, arts, dance and private enterprise in Cuba. Music and dance come to life as you attend rehearsals and private performances with well-known Cuban dance companies and musicians. Meet with artisan farmers and vivacious seniors in the Matanzas region. Enjoy a beachfront location in Varadero.

Highlights

• Meet Cubans engaged in private enterprise, including a joint venture Cuban-American company.• Attend a rehearsal by a Cuban dance company and enjoy an opportunity to speak with the dancers about their performance.• Enjoy interactions with a local Community Arts Project, an organic farmer and a Cuban baseball player.

Activity Particulars

Walking and standing up to 2 hours / one mile at a time with high sidewalks and cobblestones. Participants must be able to walk unassisted.

Round trip charter flight from Miami to Cuba is included.

Due to the nature of this program, listening devices are not available.

Itinerary Summary

Arrival Miami, Fla. 1 night

Flight to Havana (Cuba) 5 nights

Prepare for your experience to Cuba during orientation in Miami. Engage with Cubans in private enterprise including a joint Cuban-American publishing company. Delve into Cuba’s art history as you explore the Havana Museum of Fine Arts for added insight. Meet children in a special needs community center. Learn about Cuban music history and take in a performance by a musical group. Enjoy expert-led excursions showcasing the beauty of Old Havana.

Coach to Varadero 2 nights

Flight to Miami for departure

Meet with locals for lessons in traditional Cuban dances: Salsa and Danzon. Visit an organic farm owned by an artisan family and enjoy a performance of Afro-Cuban dance.

Cuba

It's a time of rapid change on the island of Cuba. After decades of restrictions, dynamic Cubans seize new opportunities created by pro-free-enterprise reforms. Havana’s “yank tanks” (classic American cars) are increasingly joined by late model imports. Literacy and health care statistics outpace many developed countries. At the same time, some Cubans still lack access to goods as basic as toothpaste. It’s a fascinating moment to discover Cuba and meet with its people as they look to the future.

Explore a full range of attractions within minutes of Miami Airport hotel's front door- including Downtown Miami, South Beach, University of Miami, the Miami Beach Convention Center, Coral Gables and countless golf courses.
The airport is 10 minutes from the hotel and offers a free shuttle service from the airport to the hotel which runs every half hour. Look for a red colored Marriott shuttle curbside at the "Departure" level.

Located in the center of the city, the hotel stands on a hill just a few meters from the sea, which offers a great view of the Havana Harbor, seawall/malecon, and the city. The Hotel Nacional de Cuba was declared a National Monument and was inscribed in the World Memory Register.

Air conditioning, safe, radio, TV, minibar, phone, hairdryer. Please note that the rooms may have been smoked in.

Facility amenities:

3 Restaurants, swimming pool, bar, 24 hour room service, business center with computers that have internet access (open from 9:00AM-7:00PM). The hotel has unreliable WiFi service. There is internet service at the hotel however, it is very expensive and very slow. The Hotel Nacional de Cuba charges 2.5 CUC’s for 15 minutes of internet access. PLEASE NOTE: If you exceed that time and use 16 minutes, you will be charged for two(2) 15-minute intervals.

Smoking allowed:

Yes

Elevators available:

Yes

Meliá Las Americas

Type:

Resort

Description:

Located beachfront on Varadero Beach, near the the Plaza America Convention Center. Five-Star All Inclusive Resort with 340 rooms.

End
of Program:
The program ends upon arrival of the charter flight in Miami on day nine. Avoid scheduling connecting flights that depart within 3 hours of the scheduled arrival time. You will be staying at Meliá Las Americas the night before.

Required
documents:
The Participant Information Form is required. Elderhostel is licensed under the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) under the U.S. Department of Treasury for participants to travel to Cuba on a Road Scholar program. Participants will receive a copy of this license prior to travel to Cuba in Miami, during orientation.
In addition to the Personal Information Forms, each participant is required to submit an Affidavit of Participation, Charter Reservation Form, and a clear copy of the passport picture information page prior to departure (check-list provided). These forms are at the end of the First Information Packet and must be completed, signed, and submitted to Road Scholar eight weeks before the program start date.
IMPORTANT NOTE: Any participant born in Cuba, regardless of current nationality, must advise Road Scholar immediately as additional forms and costs may be required.

Parking
availability:
Parking at the Marriott is $15/day (subject to change). It is also possible to park at the airport and take the hotel shuttle. http://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/miaap-miami-airport-marriott/
http://www.miami-airport.com/parking_rates.asp

Transportation

(For Independent Travelers)

To
Start of Program

Location:

Miami

Transportation
to site:

The Courtyard Miami Airport South Hotel offers a complimentary shuttle to/from the Miami airport, which departs the airport every 15 minutes. Upon arrival in Miami, there is no need to call the hotel, as the shuttle circles every 15 minutes on the departure level (2nd level) 5am to 1am daily. Look for the red and white shuttle with the Marriott logo, marked with the Miami Airport Marriott, Courtyard and Residence Inn logos on the side (this information is taken from the hotel website and is subject to change without prior notice).

From
End of Program

Location:

Havana

Nearest
highway:

Cuba’s national highway, the Autopista.

Nearest
airport:

Havana International Airport

Transportation
from site:

A group transfer from the hotel in Varadero to the Havana airport for our return charter flight is scheduled for all participants. The flight is currently scheduled to arrive in Miami around 3:30 PM. For those looking to make early flight arrangements, please do not schedule connecting flights within 3 to 3.5 hours of arrival in Miami due to possible delays and airport security. We recommend that you not make flight arrangements from Miami until 40 days prior to departure due to possible schedule changes with the charter flight times. The Final Information Packet will have the confirmed charter flight times.
PLEASE NOTE: Charter flight times are subject to change at any time, Road Scholar has no control over these changes.

The prices listed for commercial services and facilities that are not included in the program cost, such as airport shuttles or extra nights lodging, are subject to change without notice. Since Road Scholar cannot guarantee the accuracy of these prices, we strongly suggest contacting the companies directly for the most up-to-date information.

Daily Schedule

Day 1:

Arrival in Miami / Program Orientation(Wednesday, September 18)

Arrive To:

PLEASE NOTE: This day-by-day schedule should only be used as a guide since program elements are subject to change as availability is controlled by the Cuban government. Individuals will arrive at the Miami International Airport with an independent transfer to the hotel using their free shuttle service. Upon arrival at the hotel, check in and relax until orientation. Please arrive no later than 4 PM.

Afternoon:

The Road Scholar Group Leader will be in the hotel lobby at 4:45 PM to accompany the group to the orientation room. Welcome and orientation begins at 5:00 PM followed by a presentation by a member of the Cuban American community in Miami to hear about the Cuban American experience.

Note: Please note: Most staircases in Cuba do not have railings, so if you use a walking aid, please bring it on the program.

Breakfast:

Boxed breakfast at the hotel.

Morning:

Morning departure from the hotel to the terminal (final flight times will be confirmed during orientation). The Road Scholar Group Leader will meet the group in the hotel lobby to transfer to the airport. Please be in the hotel lobby with your luggage and be ready to depart the hotel 15 minutes before departure schedule. Transfer to the airport and check in to the charter flight to Havana (PLEASE NOTE: Flight times are subject to change and will be confirmed in the Final Information Packet). Upon arrival in Havana, enjoy a welcome greeting by an experienced bilingual Cuban Guide, who will be with us for the entire program.

Lunch:

Lunch at local restaurant

Afternoon:

People Connection: Meet with local artists and discuss their inspirations. Depart for a driving excursion of Havana's sites to get a sense of the city. See the capitol, malecon, U.S. Interest Section, La Rampa, and Havana University. Enjoy a walking excursion of the Hotel Nacional. This sprawling property includes a Hall of Fame featuring pictures and folklore about its many famous past guests: Frank Sinatra, Marilyn Monroe, Jack Nicholson, Eva Gardner, John Wayne and many, many more. Check-in to the hotel.

Note: This day will require walking over cobblestone and uneven streets in Old Havana.

Breakfast:

Breakfast buffet at the hotel.

Morning:

In Plaza Vieja (Old Square), discover the finest examples of restoration, which also serves as the market square. Then, explore Camera Obscura which allows for a unique view of Old Havana. People Connection: Explore the Havana Museum of Fine Arts, while a local Art Historian discusses the history and evolution of art in Cuba, and the style that has made Cuba a favorite of the art world.

Lunch:

Lunch at a local restaurant.

Afternoon:

After lunch, visit the famous Revolution Square in Havana and learn about the monumental events that have taken place there. On some buildings facing the square, you will notice monuments of several Cuban heroes; this is a great opportunity to take a group photo.Then, enter Old Havana to explore the city's intimate beauty and history. People Connection: Next, visit a home art studio and talk with the artist.

Dinner:

People to People Connection and Presentation: Meet with an artist collaborative based in Havana, and join these members for a dinner reception in your honor. Meet each artist and enjoy some time to talk about their art, work, and life in Cuba.

Learn about the interesting and different styles and types of Cuban music. People Connection: Enjoy interactions with children at a local community art project (Please note: Donations are accepted at this location, however, Road Scholar makes a financial contribution to sites on your behalf, so bringing donations is optional. Please consult the list in the information packet for all suggested items).

Lunch:

Lunch at a local restaurant.

Afternoon:

Enter Old Havana to experience the city's historic beauty and focus on the oldest part of the city at the Plaza de Armas (Arms Square). See the Greek-Roman ‘El Templete' site of the first Mass and town council meeting in 1519. Also, learn about the city's restoration project of its plazas and squares while discovering how and who funded this renovation. Next, discover the City Museum, which was once the Governors palace. People to People Connection: Enjoy interactions with a musical group.

People to People Connection: This morning, interact with an emerging dance troupe of renowned dancers from the Danza Combinatoria, and enjoy unique interactions (Please note: This activity accepts donations and may be substituted with another performing arts group where donations are also accepted).

Lunch:

Boxed lunch with the performance group; this is a unique opportunity to have intriguing conversations.

Afternoon:

People to People Connection: Meet and have authentic dialogues with an artist at his home, learn about his life, his works, and how they have progressed throughout the years.

People to People Connection: Enjoy interactions at an Artist Collaborative and learn about their art pieces. People to People Connection: Engage with a dance group and see their rehearsal before taking some time to talk with the dancers and learn about their training and careers. People to People Connection: Next, interact with members of a senior community center to learn about the work done by the charity that runs the center. Then, enjoy some time with our host over snacks and drinks to play cards and dominos or just chat about family (Please note: We recommend that you bring postcards of your town with landmarks, etc, which can be great conversation starters. This site also accepts donations).

Lunch:

Lunch at a local restaurant.

Afternoon:

Discover Plaza de la Cathedral (Cathedral Square), in Old Havana, which has boasted an interesting history (PLEASE NOTE: If the Cathedral is open, we will take this opportunity to visit the inside, but the times it is open are often changed). People to People Connection: Meet with students who study the Arts at their school. People to People Connection: Meet with a local dance instructor and learn about the history of dance in Cuba, and explore the various styles and learn why Cuba has such a rich tradition of dance.

Dinner:

Dinner on own in Havana. Explore one of the many paladars (home hosted meals) that offers a unique opportunity to meet face-to-face in much smaller groups with local Cubans. This is also an opportunity to go into Old Havana and explore the culinary selection available. A list will be provided of good choices and the Cuban Guide can help make recommendations on site.

Drive to Matanzas and Varadero/ Arts School / French Pharmacy / Afro-Cuban Dance / Community Center(Tuesday, September 24)

Breakfast:

Breakfast buffet at the hotel.

Morning:

Check out of Hotel Nacional and board the coach to begin the drive to Varadero. People to People Connection: On the way, engage with students and learn about their studies and interests (Please note: This site accepts donations). People to People Connection: Enjoy an Afro Cuban dance and talk with the performers. Next, explore the famous French Pharmacy known as La Botica Francesca, founded in the late 1800's by the Triolet family. See some of the items that would have been found during this time period which are housed in this museum: hand painted porcelain vases, medical recipes, old bottles and jars, medical instruments, labels, mortars, scorpion oil and other seemingly ancient pharmaceutical items.

Lunch:

People to People Connection: Enjoy a visit to a potter's house and farm and learn about the art projects they do. Next, eat lunch at the farm.

Afternoon:

People to People Connection: Meet with young students and enjoy a musical performance.

Check out of the hotel very early and drive to the Havana airport for flight to Miami. Charter flight times will be confirmed in the Final Information Packet which is normally sent approximately 4-5 weeks prior to departure. Please do not schedule connecting flights within 3 - 4 hours of arrival in Miami due to possible delays and airport security (PLEASE NOTE: The flight time is subject to change).

Meals
Included:

Breakfast

Important information about your itinerary: Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy and completeness of the information featured on this website. Itineraries are based on our best information at this time. Circumstances beyond our control may require us to adjust itineraries or other details. We regret any inconvenience this may cause and appreciate your understanding. Information will be sent to you from your Program Provider approximately three weeks prior to the program start date. The prices listed for commercial services and facilities that are not included in the program cost, such as airport shuttles or extra nights lodging, are subject to change without notice. Since Road Scholar cannot guarantee the accuracy of these prices, we strongly suggest contacting the companies directly for the most up-to-date information.

Suggested Reading List

A Simple Habana Melody, From When the World Was Good

Author: Oscar Hijuelos

Description: An unlikely love story and lyrical tribute to Latin music by the author of Mambo Kings.

Cuba and Its Music, From the First Drums to the Mambo

Author: Ned Sublette

Description: A thorough and entertaining history of Cuba and its music by the popular radio producer, music historian and cofounder of Cuban record label QbaDisc.

Cuba, Art and History from 1868 to Today

Author: Natha Bondil (Editor)

Description: With ravishing color reproductions of murals, posters, paintings and photographs, this magnificent book documents the history of art in Cuba from independence.

Cuba, What Everyone Needs to Know

Author: Julia Sweig

Description: Director for Latin America Studies at the Council on Foreign Relations, Sweig traces the geography, history and identity of Cuba in this admirably succinct history of the island nation and its role in world affairs.

Culture Smart! Cuba

Author: Mandy Macdonald

Description: A concise, well-illustrated and practical guide to local customs, etiquette and culture.

Havana Map

Author: Cognoscenti

Description: A colorful map of the city center of Havana.

Havana, A Cultural and Literary Companion

Author: Claudia Lightfoot

Description: An illuminating guide to the city, its history and geography, as the inspiration for writers, artists, musicians and intellectuals.

Havana, History and Architecture of a Romantic City

Author: Maria Luisa Lobo Montalvo, Hugh Thomas (Introduction)

Description: This magnificent history of Havana, featuring 480 color illustrations, shows the city and its growth from Spanish colony to independence.

Inside Havana

Author: Julio Cesar Perez Hernandez

Description: This handsome book showcases the diverse architecture of Havana, from modernist masterpieces to splendid baroque palaces and traditional businesses such as the Partagas cigar factory, one of Havana’s oldest and finest. With expert writing by Hernandez and rich color photographs by Gianni Basso.

Moon Handbook Cuba

Author: Christopher P. Baker

Description: Baker's comprehensive, indispensable guide leaves no stone unturned, covering the natural, cultural and political life of the island with style.

New Art of Cuba

Author: Luis Camnitzer

Description: A survey of Cuban art since 1981, all by young artists who have come-of-age since the revolution, and revised to reflect more recent developments Twenty-four new color plates augment the 200 black and white illustrations.

Our Man in Havana

Author: Graham Greene

Description: The classic story of a British vacuum cleaner salesman who gets accidentally drawn into cold war espionage with disastrous results.

The History of Havana

Author: Raphael Hernandez, Dick Cluster

Description: Co-authored by a Cuban and an American, this multi-faceted history of the city looks at culture, art, politics and economic development.

The Old Man and the Sea

Author: Ernest Hemingway

Description: Hemingway's brief story of a fisherman who after 84 days with no luck finally makes a big catch is also an affectionate portrait of life in Cuba. It won the 1953 Pulitzer Prize for fiction.

Trading with the Enemy

Author: Tom Miller

Description: Miller captures the openness, sensuality and pride of Cuba and the Cubans in this eloquent account of entertaining travels in Fidel's Cuba.

You can't find a better value than Road Scholar.

As a not-for-profit organization, we are dedicated to providing all-inclusive educational programs at great value. From lectures to gratuities to field trips to accommodations - the tuition you pay up front is all that you pay.

Specifically, this program includes:

8 nights accommodations

22 meals:
8 breakfasts, 7 lunches, 7 dinners

Expert-led lectures: 5

Expert-led lectures

Led by one or more of our world-class instructors, typically in a classroom setting, lectures come in the form of presentations, discussions or workshops and offer expert insight into your area of study.

Field trips: 7

Field trips

The world is your classroom, as you're on location with an instructor to pursue your educational theme firsthand.

Hands-on experiences: 19

Hands-on experiences

Learn by doing in these "hands-on" activities directed by an expert.

Flights during the program: 2

Flights during the program

Flights during the program that are included in the program price for all participants.

Visas: 1 (out of 1 required)

Plus these special experiences...

Enjoy an exclusive Road Scholar meeting with members of the Havana Artist Collaborative and discuss their work, Art in Cuba and life in Cuba today.

Enjoy an exclusive Road Scholar meeting with members of a dance company, attend their rehearsal, and enjoy an opportunity to talk face to face.

Enjoy an exclusive Road Scholar opportunity to meet a local Havana community center, share refreshments and conversation with the members.

View the Daily Schedule to see more

And included with all Road Scholar programs:

Learning led by expert instructors who are authorities in the field of study.

An experienced Group Leader attuned to the needs of Road Scholar participants.

Customary gratuities throughout the program that you would normally pay yourself.